Staycation is a popular trend in Singapore, undeniably. Why not step
away from the mainland to Sentosa?
Luxe Hotel: Cape Town Glory with One & Only
One & Only proves its worth in the
hospitality department with One & Only Cape Town.
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| One & Only, Cape Town, South Africa |
Travel in Style
“Airport fashion” has been increasingly getting attention. While it
would make more sense to prioritize comfort when going on a flight, people have
been on the lookout for a balance between practicality and style.
Changi Airport Special: Makassar, Indonesia
Makassar might not be the first destination to pop in mind when
talking about travelling to Indonesia, but this capital city of the South
Sulawesi has its own charms too. With both natural and manmade attractions, you
can be sure that your itinerary will not be left empty.
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| Lemo in Tana Toraja, a cliff burial site. Photo credit: Arian Zwegers on Flickr, used under Creative Commons. |
Changi Airport Special: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Formerly known as Saigon (in fact, still widely referred to by its
old name), Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is the largest city in Vietnam. It was also
the capital of South Vietnam, before they reunited with North Vietnam at the
end of the Vietnam War.
Changi Airport Special: Vientiane, Laos
If New York City is “the city that never sleeps”, then Vientiane
would be the city that is always in slumber. The small city (although the
largest in Laos, also the capital) moves at a very laidback pace, so do not mistake
it as the locals being lazy or unpunctual. It would be best to take it as a
breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of our hectic and hasty
lifestyle.
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Splendid
Buddhist stupa Pha That Luang, national symbol of Laos. Photo credit: danau_info on Flickr, used
under Creative Commons.
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Changi Airport Special: Kochi, India
Kochi. No,
not the one in Japan, but the one in the land of rich culture and history,
India. Kochi, formerly Cochin and also known as the Queen of Arabian Sea, is a
small city in the state of Kerala, with beautiful waters that makes for great
aqua tourism.
A place that
you must go to is Fort Kochi. There, you will able to see the famous Chinese
fishing nets (Cheena vala) and Mattancherry Palace.
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| Photo credit: Tim Moffatt on Flickr, used under Creative Commons |
Changi Airport Special: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Yogyakarta, Jogjakarta, Jojga and
anything along those lines — these are all referring to the same place. This
city on Java in Indonesia is a famous tourist destination thanks to its
proximity to the ancient Buddhist temple, Borobudur and ancient Hindu temple,
Prambanan.
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A
wayang kulit show is often accompanied by gamelan music in the background. Image by Arian Zwegers on Flickr, used under Creative Commons.
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Changi Airport Special: Yangon, Myanmar
It has been long said the change is the only
permanence. And it is Change that best describes the story of Myanmar – from
Burma to its current name, from the old flag to the new one, and from Yangon to
Naypyidaw as its capital city.
Even though it has been stripped off its
capital title, Yangon is still the country’s economic and commercial hub. Here,
you can find sacred sites, stunning nature and both traditional and modern
activities. Yangon today is an amalgamation of sacred sites set amongst
stunning natural scenary, and a slew of modern activities by the young of the
country, who have found modern ways to embrace classic tradition. Although like
in most places, the impact of the media and popular culture is evident here,
Yangon capture uniqueness as a nation with pockets of tradition both hidden and
proudly displayed to travellers eager to soak up the culture.
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People praying in the pagoda and the extremely pretty
interior.
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Shwedagon Pagoda, the main tourist attraction. It is no
wonder too, with such beauty.
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Shwedagon Pagoda, also known in English as the
Great Dagon Pagoda or Golden Pagoda, should without a doubt be the first stop
in anyone’s itinerary while in Yangon. The pagoda and stupa are rich in both
history and adornment, with the gold plating and gemstones that have been set
into it.
As a rule of thumb, it would do well to remember
that foot-wear is not allowed into most Asia religious temples or sites. You
should come earlier in the morning, before the sun is high up, so that you can
avoid burning your feet on the heated tiles. You can throw your shoes into a
plastic bag and carry it around inside – convenient if you are planning to exit
from a different entrance than the one you entered from (there are four
entrances). You are also advised to be dressed in something reasonably decent.
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| No need to be turned off at the idea of shopping in a “market” as the stalls and shops inside and all well-organised and clean. |
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| You can find traditional Myanmar outfits here too. Never mind that you are not going to wear them every day, it still make for a good keepsake! |
Enjoy the nature at Ngwe Saung Beach with
its long stretch of clean sand, water and palm trees. It is about a five to six
hours’ drive from Yangon, but the travel will most definitely be worth it for
this scenic beach. There is also an Elephant Camp not too far away, open to
visitors.
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| Spare some time to appreciate and take in the view of the lovely beach. |
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| If you are up for some adventure, hop on an elephant ride from the elephant camp which will bring you hiking through the jungle. |
There are
56 weekly flights operated by Silk Air, Jet Star and Mynmar Airways from Changi
Airport.
Changi Airport Special: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap, Cambodia. A rapidly developing city that is rich in
history and heritage. Housing Angkor Wat and plenty more beautiful temples,
Siem Reap has been a very sought-after travel destination these past years.
Especially for those looking to be immersed in another culture, a trip to this
city will be very enriching. A short flight away from Singapore, Siem Reap
creates in travellers a love for history and geography, and more significantly,
nature.
One cannot ever think of going to Siem Reap without planning to
visit the temples in the Angkor Complex. In fact, more than two to three days
should be spared just to explore these breath-taking ancient architectures. The temples are so sacred to the Khmers (Cambodians) that it has been recognized as a national symbol on the Cambodian Flag. During the horror of the Khmer Rouge, the Angkor Wat remained untouched, or slightly scathed at most. This was easily explained: No Angkor Wat, No Cambodia. A
good week in Siem Reap will be just sufficient to purchase a 3-Day temple
pass, enjoy the luxurious spas, the food and dabble in some light shopping.
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Angkor
Wat – the largest Khmer temple in the world. The surrounding moat reflects the
structure, which makes for an unbelievably picturesque view. The moat is also a
sign of power and preservation, as it has prevented the temples in the interior
complex from being consumed by the forest.
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| Banyan trees thrive in the middle of the Ta Prohm Temple, literally. The trees grow on the building itself with their roots cracking and destructing walls. Some restoration efforts have been going on, but for the most part it was decided that Ta Prohm would be left as is for the uniqueness that it is. |
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| A traditional Khmer Sculpture signifying the churning of the Ocean of milk, and Hindu mythological tale. |
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| It is definitely a wonder how – with the lack of machineries in the era during which these temples were built in – such intricate sculptures and carvings could possibly be created. |
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| Although it might take quite a while to get there from Siem Reap, a trip to The Great Lake Tonle Sap would be relaxing. A real eye-opener would be to observe how the people of the Chong Khneas floating village live. Do not be surprised if you see young children selling canned drinks on boats or even carrying snakes around their neck as they charge tourists for entertainment. |
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Come
night time, head over to the Angkor night market to shop for cute handicrafts –
don’t forget you have to shop for souvenirs to bring home for your loved ones!
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Siem
Reap is less that 3 hours away from Singapore’s Changi Airport. Every week,
there are 22 direct flights from Singapore Changi Airport to Siem Reap,
operated by Jetstar Airways and Silk Air.
Images courtesy of http://www.tourismcambodia.
Luxe Travel: Emirates
Emirates has long been a carrier to be reckoned with, especially when luxury travel is addressed. Luxury is what reigns supreme if you were to travel in the new A380, a magnificent piece of work and truly a visionary evolution in traveling. The launch event saw a stream of press and media parties at a boarding gate in Changi Airport, eagerly awaiting to see what Emirates has in store. The interior of the flight, particularly the first and business class compartments of the airline, were periods in time to prove our advancement toward luxury travel.
Airbus A380 and Emirates
Emirates is the first carrier in the world to boast a fleet of 27 A380 airbuses in service, and a total of 63 in order. Connecting Singapore to the World, the Emirates A380 travels to a large slew of destinations, including Amsterdam, Beijing, Manchester, Moscow, Paris and Tokyo, to name a few popular such destinations. The A380 also keeps the environment in mind, by reducing fuel consumption by 20% per seat. With the widest cabin in the World, more passengers are able to travel on board this aircraft.
What's Wicked: First Class with Airbus A380
The Wicked traveler gets the the full first class treatment in every sense of the word when traveling with Emirates. Every passenger is made to feel special, with a First Class cabin full of Private Suites (another World's First), arranged in a 1-2-1 formation. This maximizes seating space, and allows passengers to stretch out completely in long haul flights. An On Board Lounge awaits passengers looking to unwind, just on the upper deck. Two fully-equiped bathrooms also flag the First-Class cabin on the Emirates A380, featuring a Shower Spa with a shower cubicle, wash basin and vanity unit, toilet and changing area. In-flight provisions include first-class pampering with Bvlgari and Timeless products at your disposal. The flat screen television and complimentary snacks with next to every seat serves as the cherry atop the cake.
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| The First-Class Suite |
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| Washroom Facilities |
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| The Business Class Seats |
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| First Class Fine Dining |
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| The Business Class Aisle |
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| Emirates. Hello Tomorrow. |
Changi Airport Special: Kota Kinabalu
The perfect
blend of Culture and Nature
Kota Kinabalu (City of Kinabalu), the state capital of Sabah in East Malaysia derives its name from the majestic Mount Kinabalu, which looms in the background, about 90km from the city centre.
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| KK Cityscape from the South China Sea (David Kirkland - Sabah Tourism Board) |
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| Majestic Mount Kinabalu, lends its name to the town (Sabah Parks - Sabah Tourism Board) |
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| Aerial view of KK Cityscape |
KK as it is
commonly referred to by locals and foreigners alike, is a must visit
destination in East Malaysia. It is a naturalist’s paradise, adrenaline
junkie’s playground and cultural connoisseur’s heaven. With a two hour thirty minute
flight from Singapore’s Changi Airport, KK can easily be your next weekend
trip.
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| Gorgeous Sunset at Jesselton Point Waterfront |
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| Get your adrenaline pumping with river rafting (Melvin Ho - Sabah Tourism Board) |
With numerous
parks and monuments, you can spend a whole day sightseeing in KK city. Be sure to see the Atkinson Clock Tower
built in 1902, the City Park which is the only park within the city centre, the
State Mosque with its beautiful dome and minerat decorated with real gold and
Tanjung Aru Beach where you can indulge in the fresh seafood that is readily
available in the food stalls along the beach.
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| State Mosque of Sabah can accomodate up to 5000 worshippers |
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| The Atkinson Clock Tower has been around for over a century and witnessed the growth of KK |
The lush natural
beauty of KK will entice you from the minute you lay eyes on it. With beautiful
mountain ranges, tropical forests, mangrove swamps and pristine islands with
coral reefs for you to explore. The snorkeling and dive sites around the island
off the coast of KK offers a wide variety of marine life for you to observe.
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| See the world's largest flower up close (David Kirkland - Sabah Tourism Board) |
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| Pristine beauty of Kapalai Island |
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| Hard coral reefs found around Gaya Island |
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| Police Beach on Gaya Island (David Kirkland - Sabah Tourism Board) |
Visitors to KK
can experience unique interaction with the natives in the cultural villages
around KK. You will be able to experience first hand a way of life that has
changed very little since the 18th century. Learn to appreciate our
Earth better when you see it through the eyes of the indigenous people of
Sabah.
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| Cultural immersion with the indigenous people of Sabah (Lim Sheng Haw - Sabah Tourism Board) |
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| A Murut Warrior with a blowpipe (David Kirkland - Sabah Tourism Board) |
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| Tamu, the vibrant and colourful native maket (David Kirkland - Sabah Tourism Board) |
Make Kota
Kinabalu your next retreat and indulge in all the amazing sights and
experiences it has to offer.
Images courtesy
of The Sabah Tourism Board and Wikipedia.
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